In an unparalleled religious madness, in Nepal, a Hindu festival calls for a mass animal sacrifice which is considered to be the world's goriest mass killing of animals.

A few hundred thousands buffaloes, pigs, goats, pigeons, rabbits and chickens are killed as part of the blood-soaked festival held every five years (November 24, 25) to honor the Hindu goddess of power.

To the disgrace of Nepal, the brutal killing of over 200,000 animals at the Gadhimai Festival in 2009 was sponsored by the country's Government.

Largely ignored by the rest of the world, the handling and slaughter of the animals contravened the most basic animal welfare standards. Anyone at the festival could kill animals in whatever way they wished and with any tool they chose. Many of the water buffaloes were brought over the border from India and, if they had not died during transit, they were put into an enclosure prior to the festival and not fed or watered for several days, making them weak and less resistant to their killers.

We, the undersigned, call on the government of Nepal to ban animal sacrifices and cruel sports. Nepal in the past banned human sacrifice and widow burning. We feel the time has come to ban blood sacrifices for the following reasons:

1. It hurts them;

2. It hurts us humans;

3. It strengthens vested interests;

4. It contradicts the spirit of laws and treaties;

5. It is bad for tourism.

We request the political leaders of Nepal to do what it takes to stop cruelty against animals in the name of culture or religion.

We, the undersigned, call on the government of Nepal to ban animal sacrifices and cruel sports. Nepal in the past banned human sacrifice and widow burning. We feel the time has come to ban blood sacrifices for the following reasons:

1. It hurts them;

2. It hurts us humans;

3. It strengthens vested interests;

4. It contradicts the spirit of laws and treaties;

5. It is bad for tourism.

We request the political leaders of Nepal to do what it takes to stop cruelty against animals in the name of culture or religion.----------------

Sincerely,

In an unparalleled religious madness, in Nepal, a Hindu festival calls for a mass animal sacrifice which is considered to be the world's goriest mass killing of animals.

A few hundred thousands buffaloes, pigs, goats, pigeons, rabbits and chickens are killed as part of the blood-soaked festival held every five years (November 24, 25) to honor the Hindu goddess of power.